Automatic machine for assembling lazy tongs linkage from strips of link plates



June 26, 1962 F. MUELLER ETAL 3,040,515

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LAZY TONGS LINKAGE FROM STRIPS OF LINKPLATES Filed Dec. 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS' JOSEPH JPFISCFILL.

30 30 -7 BY FR/TZ MUELLER FITTORNEYS June 26, 1962 F. MUELLER ETAL3,040,515

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LAZY TONGS LINKAGE FROM STRIPS OF LINKPLATES Filed Dec. 15, 1958 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOSEPH J.PHSCHLLA FR/ z MUELLER HTTORNEYS June 26, 1962 F. MUELLER ETAL AUTOMATICMACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LAZY TONGS LINKAGE FROM STRIPS OF LINK PLATES 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 IN VENTORS 511. JOSEPH J PHscHLLFRITZ MUELLER HTTORNEYS June 26, 1962 F. MUELLER ETAL 3,040,515

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LAZY TONGS LINKAGE FROM STRIPS OF LINKPLATES Filed Dec. 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS I JOSEPH J.PHSCFILL.

Fhvrz AJUELLER Unite York Filed Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 780,358 14Claims. (CI. 59-13) The invention relates to a machine for automaticallyinserting eyelets in lazy tong style of expandible band such aswristbands for jewelry, watches and the like. There has been disclosedin the Valli Patent Number 2,829,488 a method of assembling the links ofa chain by punching one set of links into a metal strip metal andpunching the second set into a second metal strip in a a particularmanner but leaving the links in both strips rernovably retained in itsstrip. When these two strips overlay each other, the links in one stripare so positioned with respect to the links in the other that byinsertion of an eyelet in the center and each of the end eyelet holesand upsetting or curling the end of each eyelet, the links,

arepivotall'y linked together. This dispenses with'the individualhandling of links. The assembling machine herein is designed for puttingthe eyelets in this arrangement of links and upsetting the end of theeyelet to secure it in the holes.

It is an object of the invention to construct an assembling machine forinserting eyelets through the holes in the links which are retained inthe superimposed metal strips of material and securing the same therein.

Another object of the invention is to construct an assembling machinewhich automatically inserts eyelets in the links of an expandible bandand which is constructed so as not to insert eyelets in the side holesafter a predetermined number of links have been so connected so thatwhen the links are strpped from the strip material, the bands aredisconnected at the desired number of links.

Another object is to construct an assembling machine of the typedescribed in which the number of links in the band may be selected asdesired.

Another object is to construct an assembling machine which isautomatically stopped if the holes of the band should get too far out ofalignment to be shifted into alignment.

.Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the assembling machine which is a punchpress in its basic form;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the head with its aligning means, andeyelet carriers positioned above the anvil and punches;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the anvil;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the end of the double eyelet feeder chute,solenoid and cam in section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in'longitudinal section of an eyelet carrierand its mount;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the anvil;

. FIG. 7 is a section through the anvil taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the eyelet carriers approachingthe holes in the links and the punches;

FIG. 9 shows the end eyelets and thecenter eyelet in dot dash beinginserted in the holes but prior to upsetting the ends of the eyelets; r

FIG. 10 is a section showing the eyelets after having sa e Patent Gtheir lower ends punched or upset so that they are irremovably retainedin the holes of the links;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the strip feeder;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of the bottom of the center hole eyeletchute and cam;

FIG. 13 is a detail of the chute cam with its blade;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the ratchet mechanism; and

FIG. 15 is a top view of the strips or hands with the links carriedthereby.

The eyelet machine is basically a punch press having a frame 10 and aslide 11 which reciprocates on ways 15 on the frame and is reciprocatedby an eccentric or crank drive 12 in usual punch press fashion. The twometallic strips 13 and .14 have the wrist band or bracelet links Lpunched and restored into the strips so that theyare retained thereonand have the center and the two end eyelet holes punched therethrough.The links are positioned angularly with respect to each other, as shownin 'FIG. 15 so that when the strips are superimposed with the centerhole of two overlying angularly disposed links L1 and L2 in alignment,then one end of one link L1 has its eyelet hole in alignment with theend hole of the preceding link L3 and the eyelet hole at the other endof this link is in alignment with the hole in the end of the followinglink L4.

In order to assure that the links in the two strips are properlyaligned, a head '17 which is carried on the slide, and additionallyguided by posts 16 carries an aligning pin 18 which enters the centerholes of two superimposed links in order to assure that the center holeof the links of one strip is in alignment with the center hole of thelinks of the other 'strip. The eyelets to be inserted are fed by eyeletfeeding means in which the eyelets are carried in hoppers 19 and passedto positioning means 20 of any suitable kind so that the rim or flangeof the eyelet is up when fed down an eyelet passage in a chute 21 at themouth ordelivery end 22 of which, the eyelet is removably retained suchas by spring means in known manner.

A center hole eyelet carrier or pin 25 is slidablywarried in a holder 26and pressed downwardly by a spring 27. This holder may be of anysuitable construction and is carried by the head 17 to be reciprocatedthereby. The center hole eyelet feeder or second feeding means, FIG. 12,is shown located in the back of the machine so that its chute 21projects forwardly. The chute 21 is pivotally mounted on a pivot, notshown, but is similar to the pivot 28 of another eyelet feeder so thatthe end of the eyelet chute is projected forwardly underneath the centereyelet carrier so that the eyelet in the delivery end' 22 of the chute21 is in alignment therewith. A spring 23 has one end attached to thechute and the other end attached to an anchor 24 carried by a guidemeans 32. As the head moves downwardly, FIGS. 7-10, the eyelet carrierenters the hole in the eyelet after which the eyelet chute is pivotedrearwardly and the eyelet is removed from the chute and is now carriedon the carrier pin. Continued downward movement of the head brings thecarrier with its eyelet into the center hole CH of two links. Continueddownward movement and the end of the carrier mount 26 presses the lowerend of the eyelet against a second punch means of a punch mechanismhaving a punch 29 secured to a base 30. The carrier retracts in themount. An anvil 31 is slidably mounted in guide'means 32 and pressedupwardly by a spring 33 and receives the punch 29 as well as the otherpunches in holes therethroughl The center hole eye-let carrier or pin 25is spaced a short distance or a few holes to the right of the centeringof aligning pin 18. The center hole eyelet usually, though notnecessarily, is larger than the end eyelets. The guide means 32 carriesguide plates 34 on the top thereof which extend over the central spacebetween the spaced guide members which with the guide means and the topof the anvil guide the link strips over the anvil.

To the left of the centering or aligning pin 18 are a pair of spaced endhole or outside eyelet carriers or pins 37 and 38 carried by similarholders 26. They are positioned to enter the aligned eyelet holes in theends of two different superimposed links. The end hole eyelets are feddown through a single eyelet chute or a first eyelet feed means 39 whichhas a pair of spaced channels 35 and 36, one for each of the twoeyelets, so that when the end of the chute is pivoted to the right tobring the delivery end of the chute and the eyelets in position inalignment with the carriers or pins 37 and 38 on the downward movementof the head, each carrier enters the hole in its eyelet. Thereafter thechute is pivoted to the left away from the carriers and an eyelet Y ison each carrier. Continued downward movernent of the head and carriersprojects the carrier and its eyelet into its aligned end holes EH untilthe end of each eyelet engages the first punch means of a punchmechanism including its respective punch 4i and 41. The end of thecarrier mount presses the eyelet against its punch which curls the endof the eyelet and permanently aflixes it in the end holes of two linksas shown in FIG. 10. The anvil is pressed downwardly in the last part ofthe downward movement.

Means are provided to pivot the chutes or eyelet feed means underneaththe respective pins and move them away. This means is essentially thesame for each chute. There are various ways of accomplishing this andthe means particularly illustrated for shifting the ends of the eyeletchutes away from alignment, includes a cam 44 for each chute 21 and 39,carried by the head 17 and a cam follower 45 suitably secured to itsrespective chute. The cam follower has a slot 46 in which the cam 44slides. The slot 46 for chute 39 .is a closed slot. The cam also carriesa blade 47 which is slidably mounted in a slot in the cam so that oneedge is in alignment with cam edge 56 and the other edge is in alignmentwith cam edge 51. A spring 43 engages the end of the blade and pressesthe blade downwardly. A balancing spring 48 is attached to thepositioning means 20 for the eyelet fed to the chute 39 since the weightof the structure normally pivots the delivery end of the chute 39 to theright aligned with the eyelet carriers. The same construction is usedfor the chute 21 except for the spring 23 and the slot 46 for the chute21 is shown as an open ended slot.

Upon the downward movement of the head towards the anvil, the deliveryend of each eyelet chute is under its carriers 37, 38 and 25. The end ofthe sliding blade 47 engages the top surface of the cam follower andretracts until the cam surface 49 engages the left hand edge of the slot46 which cam or cam surfaces propels the cam chute 39 to the left out ofthe way and similar action propels the chute 21 rearwardly out of theway. The eyelets are removed on these chute movements. This brings theblade 47 clear of the shoulder so that it is propelled downwardly by itsspring to its down position so that upon, upward or return movement ofthe head and cam, the left hand edge of the blade rides on the left endof the slot 46 and retains the eyelet chutes 39 and 21 away from thecarrier pins. When the blade is raised above the cam follower 45, theeyelet chute pivots to the right and the chute 21 pivots forwardly sothat the edge of the slot engages the cam surface 50 which brings eachdelivery end underneath its carriers for the next downward movement ofthe carriers to pick up another set of eyelets and the operationrepeats.

Any suitable means is provided to feed the two link strips through theguide means and over the anvil, the means shown being suitable feedrollers 52, 53. Roller 53 is oscillated by an arm 54 connected with alink 55. This link is connected with a feed eccentric 56 carried by themain shaft 57 of the punch press. This feed eccentric has a slot 58therein for adjustment of the position of the end of the link 55 withrespect to the center of the shaft and thereby permits the length of thestroke of the link to be adjusted and the extent of oscillation of thefeed roller 53. The arm 54 turns the feed roller 52 in one directionthrough a one direction friction clutch mechanism 59 which is on themarket. A gear between roller shafts turns the upper gear. The eyelets,securing the strip 13 to the strip 14, feeds the latter through themachine. The upper roller is pressed against the lower roller by aspring 68 and mechanism is provided to raise this roller for eachdownward movement of the head. This mechanism includes a lift lever 60pivotally mounted on the roller frame on a pivot 61. The left ends ofthe lift lever engages under the bearing blocks for roller 53 and theother end extends under a finger 69 carried by the head. The end of thelift lever is spaced below the finger so that after the strip has beenfed, the rollers are separated so that the aligning pin is notrestrained by the feed rollers to align the holes in the strips.

Safety means is provided to disconnect the press clutch provided withsuch presses and stop the reciprocation of the head in the event thatthe link strips 13 and 14 are not in sufficiently close alignment sothat the aligning pin can enter the center holes of two links and alignthe center holes and the hands. This is accomplished by the aligning pin18 being slidably mounted, FIG. 2, and normally held against movement.Means is provided to disconnect the press clutch when this occurs, themeans shown being conveniently electrical. The aligning pin carries agrooved head 62 which is slidably mounted in a hole 63 carried by thehead 17 and a spring 64 in the hole resiliently holds the aligning pin18 downwardly and propels it downwardly if raised. In the groove of thehead is received the end of a switch pin 65 which is slidably mounted inthe head and operates a normally closed switch 66. When the aligning pindescends and the center holes are not in suflicient alignment so as tobe aligned by the aligning pin, the latter fails to enter one or bothcenter holes so that it moves upwardly relatively to the head whichforces the end of the switch pin out of the groove and to the right andpresses the switch pin 65 to the right as shown in FIG. 2 to open theswitch 66. The switch is electrically connected with a solenoid 77 whichoperates a lever 94 to control the driving clutch 67 of the press toconnect and disconnect the clutch or driving connection with theeccentric 12.

Counting mechanism is provided to count the number of links which havebeen connected together so that when the desired length of link band ora band with the desired number of links has been formed, the end eyeletsare not inserted and hence not punched for this count. Since the endeyelets are the connection between links, failure to link the ends atany selected number of links provides a series of connected links of thenumber. The center eyelet is inserted and punched for every center holehowever. The counting mechanism may be variously constructed that shownbeing a ratchet mechanism which also may take various forms. The ratchetmechanism shown includes a ratchet wheel shaft 70 on which is mounted atleast one ratchet wheel 71. The ratchet wheel shaft is mounted on theframe 10 of the press. A pawl 72 is carried by a part of thereciprocating mechanism such as the head 17 and engages the ratchetwheel. For each reciprocation of the head, the ratchet wheel is advancedat least one tooth. Withdrawing means is provided which is operated bythe counting mechanism when it has made the desired count to hold theend of the chute 39 away from the carriers for one reciprocation of thehead. Upon the completion of one revolution, a switch operator 73, shownas a groove in the ratchet wheel, closes a solenoid switch 74 toenergize a solenoid 75. The solenoid armature is connected through aspring 76 and cam follower 45 with the eyelet chute 39 for the end holesof the links and holds it to the left so that the end of the chute isnot projected beneath the descending eyelet carriers 37 and '38. Sincethese carriers do not pick up eyelets, the ends of the links are notconnected together so thatwhen the links are stripped from the bands orstrips, these links are unconnected and the connected links of theproper number of links only are connected together.

For a different number of links a ratchet wheel with a different numberof teeth may be mounted on the ratchet wheel shaft. Preferably, however,a series of ratchet wheels such as 84 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 havingdifferent number of teeth are rotatably mounted on the shaft andconnected by bolts 86 to rotate together. By positioning the pawl 72along the adjustable pawl mount 87 to engage the desired ratchet wheel,the number of links to be connected may be selected as desired. A slot88 in the pawl mount enables adjustment to be made for any particularratchet wheel.

Some of the ratchet wheels may be used for two different lengths ofbands or two different numbers of connected links. For example a ratchetwheel with 36 ratchet teeth may count 36 connected links however, byvarying the position of the end of the pawl 72 with respect to theratchet wheel by means of a screw 89 to rotate the ratchet wheel tworatchet teeth then a band will be formed having 18 connected links. Byprojecting the end of the pawl slightly away from the ratchet wheel,.itwill engage each ratchet tooth. This is accomplished by adjustment ofthescrew 89. Similarly a 40 tooth ratchet wheel may be operated to makea band of 20 connected links by rotating the same two teeth. Othercombinations may be provided including advancing a ratchet wheel threeteeth for a ratchet wheel having a number of teeth-which is a multipleof three. By adjusting'the vertical position of the pawl or its holder90 with respect to the pawl mount 87 through a slot 91, the pawl mayadvance the ratchet wheel one or more teeth for each reciprocation ofthe head.

The anvil guide 32 may carry an aligning pin guide 78 having a guidehole 79 for the aligning pin 18 to assure that the aligning pin is notbent or flexed out of proper aligning position. The aligning pin 18should be relatively close to the eyelet carriers and a convenientlocation is between the center hole carrier and the end hole carriersalthough it may be located in any other adjacent location. I

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in aneyelet'assembling machine. It is understood that various modificationsin structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, andmanner of use, may and often do occur to those skliled in the art,especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. Thisdisclosure illustrates the preferred means of embodying the invention inuseful form.

What is claimed is:

1. An extensible band assembling machine for connecting links carried bya pair of link strips having a plurality of holes regularly spacedlengthwise of the link strips comprising a frame, a head, means carriedby the frame mounting the head for reciprocal movement, an anvil carriedby the frame in alignment with the head, means connected with the headfor reciprocating the same towards and away from the anvil, guide meansto guide the pair of strips insuperimposed relation over the anvil,punch mechanism projecting into the anvil including a first punch meanshaving at least one punch and a second punch means including a punch,means to feed a pair of superimposed link strips through the guide meansand over the anvil, an eyelet carrier for each of the punches, thecarriers being carried by the head with each carrier in alignment withits punch, a first eyelet feeding means for at least one eyelet carrierand having at least one eyelet passage, said passage having an eyeletdelivery end, a second eyelet feeding means for another eyelet carrier,means mounting each eyelet feeding means for movement of its deliveryend into the path of its eyelet carrier and away therefrom, operatingmeans for the first eyelet feeding means and connected therewith to movethe same into alignment with and away from its carrier for successivemovements of the head towards and away from the anvil, operating meansfor the second eyelet feeding means and connected therewith to move thesame into alignment with and away from its cmrier for each movement ofthe head towards and away from the anvil, counting mechanism forcounting the reciprocations of the head, and withdrawing means operatedupon a predetermined count of the counting mechanism and connected withthe first eyelet feeding means to hold the same away from under saidcooperatingeyelet carrier for. one re ciprocation of the head.

2. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 1 in which thecounting mechanism includes ratchet mechanism operated by the machine oneach reciprocal cycle thereof, and said withdrawing means operated bythe ratchet mechanism upon a predetermined number of reciprocations ofthe head to hold the delivery end of the first eyelet feeding means awayfrom under said eyelet carrier for one reciprocation of, the head.

3. An extensible band assembling machine asin claim 2 in which theratchet mechanism includes a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation on theframe and a pawl carried by the head and engaging the ratchet wheel, andsaid withdrawing means including a switch operator rotatable with theratchet wheel, a switch operated once on each revolution of the switchoperator, and a solenoid connected with the eyelet feed means andelectrically connected with the switch.

4. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 1 in which onepunch means is spaced at least two holes forwardly of the other punchmeans and their respective eyelet carriers are correspondingly spaced,and an aligning means carried by the head positioned to enter a.corresponding hole in the two strips and being positioned between theeyelet carriers. a

5. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 1 in which theoperating means for each eyelet feeding means includes a cam carried bythe head, the eyelet feeding means having a ,slot receiving the cam anda shoulder at the side of the slot, a retractible blade carried by thecam and engaging the shoulder when the head is descending and thedelivery end of the chute is under the eyelet carriers and entering theslot when the cam withdraws the eyelet feeding means away from alignmentwith the eyelet carrier to hold the eyelet feeding means away during thereturn movement of the carriers.

6. An extensible band assembling machine for connecting links carried bya pair of link strips each link having a center hole and a hole at eachend thereof comprising a frame, a head, means carried by the framemounting the head for reciprocal movement, an anvil carried by the framein alignment with the head, means connected with the head forreciprocating the same towards and away from the anvil, guide means toguide the strips over the anvil, three spaced punches projecting intothe anvil, means to feed a pair of superimposed link strips through theguide means and over the anvil, a pair of end hole eyelet carriers and acenter hole eyelet carrier carried by the head with each carrier inalignment with a punch, a first eyelet feeding means for the pair ofeyelet carriers for the end holes having a double channel with an eyeletdelivery end, a second eyelet feeding means for the eyelet carrier forthe center hole having a delivery end, means mounting each eyeletfeeding means for movement of its delivery end into the path of itseyelet carrier and away therefrom, operating means for each eyeletfeeding means and connected therewith to move the same under and awayfrom the carriers for each movement of the head towards and away fromthe anvil, withdrawing means to move the double channel eyelet feedingmeans away from alignment with the carriers during at least the initialdownward movement of the head until the aforesaid operating meansbecomes effective, and counting mechanism operable by each reciprocationof the head and connected with the withdrawing means to actuate thelatter upon a predetermined number of reciprocations of the head.

7. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 6 in which thewithdrawing means includes a switch operated by the counting mechanismat a predetermined count thereof, and a solenoid electrically connectedwith the switch and connected with the chute to withdraw the end thereoffrom under the eyelet carriers.

8. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 7 in which thecounting mechanism includes ratchet wheel means having at least oneratchet wheel, means mounting the ratchet wheel means for rotation as aunit, a pawl carried by the head and engaging said ratchet wheel meansto rotate the same, and the solenoid switch being operated by eachrotation of the ratchet wheel means.

9. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 8 in which theratchet wheel means includes a plurality of ratchet wheels securedtogether and adjustable mounting means for the pawl to position the sameto engage a selected ratchet wheel.

10. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 6 in which theoperating means for each eyelet feeding means includes a cam carried bythe head, a cam follower carried by the eyelet feeding means and engagedby the cam to propel the delivery end of the eyelet feeding means awayfrom the path of the carriers, a shoulder carried by the eyelet feedingmeans, and a retractible blade carried by the head having an endengaging the shoulder in carrier aligned position of eyelet feedingmeans to retract the blade as the head descends until the eyelet feedingmeans is moved by the cam and having an edge engaging the eyelet feedingmeans to hold the eyelet feeding means away from aligned position duringthe rest of the movement of the head.

11. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 6 in which theoperating means for each eyelet feeding means includes a cam carried bythe head, a cam follower carried by the eyelet feeding means and engagedby the cam to propel the delivery end of the eyelet feeding means awayfrom the path of the carriers and having a shoulder, a slot in the cam,and a retractible blade carried by the cam slot having its end engagingthe shoulder until the cam moves the eyelet feeding means away fromaligning position after which the blade edge engages the cam followerduring the rest of the reciprocal movement of the head.

12. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 6 includingaligning means carried by the head and located between the center holeeyelet carrier and the pair of eyelet carriers.

13. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 12 includingmounting means slidably mounting the aligning means, spring meanspropelling the aligning means outwardly, and means releasably retainingthe aligning means in outward position.

14. An extensible band assembling machine as in claim 13 including aclutch for the head reciprocating means, clutch operating means, and aswitch operated by releasing movement of the retaining means andactuating the clutch operating means to disconnect the clutch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS502,327 Stimpson Aug. 1, 1893 504,435 Jones Sept. 5, 1893 786,504 LewisApr. 4, 1905 1,448,946 Schaffer Mar. 20, 1923 1,505,691 Barkstrom Aug.19, 1924 1,572,932 Jones Feb. 16, 1926 1,932,420 Nokes Oct. 31, 19332,357,889 Gookin Sept. 12, 1944 2,550,680 Ewing et a1. May 1, 19512,686,671 Gooperton Aug. 7, 1954 2,700,870 Green Feb. 1, 1955 2,829,488Valli Apr. 8, 1958

